Cmdr. CDR TIMOTHY J. “TJ” ORTH
Commanding Officer, USS INDIANAPOLIS (LCS 17)
12 September 2025
CDR TJ Orth is a native of Farmville, Virginia and a 2007 graduate of the US Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in History.
CDR Orth completed his division officer tours aboard USS JOHN L. HALL (FFG 32), serving first as the Fire Control Officer and Lead Boarding Officer and later as Training Officer. As a Department Head, he was the commissioning Combat Systems Officer in Littoral Combat Ship Crew 110, the first LCS Crew to form in Mayport, Florida. He remained with LCS Crew 110 for his second department head tour as Operations Officer. During that tour, Crew 110 accepted delivery of and commissioned USS SIOUX CITY (LCS 11), including sailing her from the builder’s yard in the Great Lakes to her homeport. He subsequently commanded USS FIREBOLT (PC 10), forward deployed to Manama, Bahrain, from August 2019 to October 2020. He remained in Bahrain and served as Operations Director on the staff of Destroyer Squadron FIFTY and Task Force FIVE FIVE before returning to Mayport to serve as Executive Officer of USS ST. LOUIS (LCS 19) from December 2022 until January 2024. He commanded USS ST. LOUIS (LCS 19) from February 2024 to August 2025 including the ship’s maiden deployment. Commander Orth has deployed to the Baltic, Black, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Guinea and eastern Pacific Ocean. He assumed command of INDIANAPOLIS (LCS 17) in September 2025.
Ashore, Commander Orth served as an instructor of Seamanship and Navigation and Yard Patrol Craft Officer in Charge at the US Naval Academy while earning his Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.
Commander Orth’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Stars), Navy Commendation Medal (with Gold Stars), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with Gold Star) as well as various unit and service awards.